Exploring the Advanced Tools in the Reminders App
The Reminders app on the iPhone, especially in iOS 18 and later, goes well beyond a basic to-do list. While many are familiar with simply creating and checking off tasks, the app offers advanced tools that help make organization easier and more efficient. These tools include tags, smart lists, folders, sections, and new sorting and viewing options. They work together to help users customize their experience based on their needs.
A Quick Overview of the Basics
Before getting into the advanced features, it’s helpful to quickly review the basics. The Reminders app is easy to use for managing daily tasks. Users can add a reminder by tapping the “New Reminder” button and typing in what they want to remember. From there, a reminder can include a due date, time, and even a location or a flag to mark it as important. These basics are still at the heart of the app, but the newer features build on them in powerful ways.
Adding Tags for Flexible Organization
One of the most useful additions is the ability to add tags. Tags can be added when creating or editing a reminder. They are typed in with a hashtag symbol, like #home or #errands. Once tags are added, they allow reminders to be grouped or filtered in helpful ways. For instance, even if tasks are in different lists, all reminders with the same tag can be viewed together by tapping that tag. This makes it easier to focus on a category of tasks regardless of where they were added.
Using Smart Lists to Automatically Collect Tasks
Smart Lists are another powerful tool. These are custom lists that automatically gather reminders based on certain criteria. Tags are one of the most common filters used to build a Smart List. For example, a Smart List could be set to show all reminders with the tag #calls. Any time a new reminder is created with that tag, it will automatically show up in the list. Smart Lists can also be filtered by location, date, or priority. Once set up, they update on their own, reducing the need to move reminders manually.
Creating Lists for Specific Projects or Categories
Beyond Smart Lists, users can still create standard reminder lists to organize tasks by topic or project. These lists can be named and color-coded, and each can have its own icon. Creating a list for something like “Vacation Planning” or “House Projects” can help group similar tasks together. These lists act as containers for reminders, and they can be customized with different views and sorting options.
Organizing Lists into Folders
Folders offer another way to manage lists. A folder can hold several different lists, making it easier to keep track of related reminders. For example, work-related lists like “Meetings,” “Reports,” and “Calls” could all be stored in a single “Work” folder. Creating folders helps reduce clutter and keeps the Reminders app easier to navigate.
Breaking Long Lists into Sections
When a list grows long, it can become difficult to manage. That’s where sections come in. Sections allow a list to be split into parts. For instance, a grocery list might be divided into sections like “Produce,” “Dairy,” and “Frozen.” Each section can have its own name, color, and icon. Reminders can be moved between sections, and new sections can be added or removed as needed. This helps users see their tasks in a clearer, more organized way.
Changing How Reminders Are Sorted and Grouped
Reminders also allows users to control how reminders are sorted and grouped. Tasks can be sorted by due date, creation date, priority, or title. In addition, users can group reminders by these same options. This means that within a list, reminders can be automatically arranged to show what’s most urgent, or grouped to show what’s due today, tomorrow, or later. These settings can be changed at any time, giving users flexibility in how they manage their tasks.
Location-Based Reminders and More
Another helpful feature is the ability to create reminders that are triggered by location. For example, a reminder can be set to appear when arriving at the grocery store or when leaving home. This makes it easier to remember tasks at the right place and time. These location-based reminders are easy to set by tapping the “i” button next to a reminder and choosing the location option.
Putting It All Together
With all these features—tags, Smart Lists, folders, sections, sorting options, and location-based reminders—the Reminders app has become a more complete tool for staying organized. It can still be used as a simple to-do list, but it now has the flexibility to handle more complex workflows. Whether managing daily errands or large projects, users can customize the app to suit their needs and keep everything in order.
